Flushing valve



Oct. 1'4, 1924.

W. F. KN'ELL FLUSHING VALVE Filed Ma'rch 14.

Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM FRANKLIN KNELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FLUSHING VALVE.

Application led March 14, 1923. Serial No. 625,005.

To all 'whom t may conc-em:

vBe it known that I WILLLAM F. KNELL, citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of-Wayne and tate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing Valves;

and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying draw` ings, which form art of this specification. This invention 1s a novel flushing valve for water closets and the like, and its principal object is to provide a flushing valve by which the closet may be flushed directly from a water supply pipe without neressitating the use of a tank or reservoir; and which will be effective in its operation; and will not require frequentl adjusting and repairing. Y Another object of the invention is to dispense with the usual tank or flushing reservoir and its accompanying mechanical valve controlling devices. Further, to provide an eiiicient flushing apparatus, simple in con` struction, small, compact, and easy to install and which will not be liable to get out of order. f

The present application is an improvenient over my application for U. S. lLetters Patent on flushing valve, filed April 1l,

1922, Serial No. 551,495.I

In the accompanying drawings I have illustr'ated lone practical embodiment of the invention and will describe the same with reference thereto, to enable others to understand and use the same; and in the appended claims summarize the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts.l

for'all of which protection is desired. 4o In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the valve showin full lines, and the valve partly open in dotted lines.

Fig, 2 is a section similar to Fig. 1 showf the parts in closed position in end of a waterV supply pipe S, indicated in Fig. 1.

The top of casing 1 is preferably closed by a cap 2, externally threaded at 2"i to engage the internal threads. .11? at the top of casing l, and Vthis cap 2 is preferably provided with a hexagonal projection i?.d adapt- .l

ed for engagement with a wrench, or the like whereby cap 2 may be screwed onto or off of the casing 1. Cap 2 may be provided with a recess 2G in its inner side," asindicated in Figs. l and 2, to accommodate the upper end 8a of the valve stem 8, hereinafter referred to. A Washer-2bis preferably inserted between the 'cap and the top of` the casing, as shown. p

The bottom of the casing 'l is preferably internally threaded to receive the externally threaded end 3b 'of a lower cylindrical casv img .meinber 3 ycontaining Ythe outlet port.. Casings 1 and 3 are Vpreferably,madel of brass or other non-corrosive metal and may be nickel plated or lotherwise ,finished on their exteriors. Member 3 is partly closed at its upper or inner end by an interior circumferential lflange 3c leavingan opening or portv 3 at the` center thereof.v `The upper outer edges of vmember 3 are preferably formed to make a circumferential shoulder 3"?LA above which is an Vexternally .threaded part 3b adapted to engage the internal threads at the lower end of casing l1. A washer l" may be placed between casing l andmember 3, as shown. of member 3 is exteriorly threaded for engagement with the closet bowl or other meinber to be flushed.

`Within the member 3, are bearings 3f, adapted to receive a horizontal rock shaft 3g upon which is mounted. a finger-3h for unseating the valves, as hereinafter explained, finger 3h being secured to said shaft in any desired manner, as by a setv screw. At the point where the shaft 3g passes through the member 3, a stuffing box 3k may be provided to prevent water escaping fromthe casing around the shaft, and shaft 3g may be operated by a handle 3m on the outer end thereof.

Within the casing, on the axis thereof, is a tube 3X which is preferably externally threaded on its lower end to engage threads in the port 3'of the member 3, tube 3Xex- ,Y

tending upwardly` from the member 3, '.as shown, slightly above the opening in the. T ld of casing 1. Tube 3X is somewhat smaller The lower part in diameter than the interior diameter of' casing 1and the upper edge of the tube is preferably machined to form ai smooth finish or valve seat for the piston Valve 4, hercinafter eXplained.l 4

Within the tube 3X, on the vertical axis of the casing l, is a tubular valve stem '5, on the upper end of which, above the top of tube 3X, is mounted between two threaded collars 4a, 4?, .a piston valve 4, the top of said" 'stein `5 Jbeing',preferably flush with the top surfaceA of the lupper collar 4. Stern l5 extends jdowfn within 'the tube 3X to within a short distance ofthe lower end of said tfube,f a"nd mounted on the lower end of' said stem 5 'is a spider `7, fsl'idably engaging the ifin'er walls 'of the tube 3XN for lthe purpose' of aligning said stem within the tube 3"'. The upper end of said stem' is aligned 'by the piston valve 4,' engaging the walls of' thegcasiiig l abovefthe tube 3*.

Wlithin the casing' 1 isa: piston valve 4 mounted on the upper end ofstem 5, which @If-"any suitable construction., being slid'able in said casing l and dividing the casing into an upper and lower chamber, which ohambers Vary in Volume according to, the position and movement' of the piston valie. 'Als shown, piston valve 4 comprises anv inverted 'eu-p4* olfl leather or anysuitable ateri which is securely mounted on the up "`r"end 'offstell 5 between a metal disk 4C, [andmaf thick leather disk 4f of smaller y diamefferthan disk 4C, said leather dish 4? foriniiigmtlie Valve for closing the upper end offtu'be BelowY disk 4f isa fibre disk 4g of v somewhat smaller diameter lthauthe inside ndiameter of tube 3*,'and disks 4Q, 'el-, 4", ,and 4g" are all mounted on the stem 5 between'vcollars 4a and 4b, the downwardly flanged pcutionsv of disk 4'X engaging the sides of'the easing l to prevent passageof water thereby. An aperture 4e, extending through the piston valve 4 outside. the tube 3*'permits'waterto passV slowly from the lower to the upper casing chamber.

Extending throughl the tubular yal've stem 5 y,eiite-ndin'g'above andbelow same and sldable therein, is al tube 8, which preferably provided withl a disk like valve 8a on its upper end. A washer 8b is preferably placed on Ystem 8 below head 8a and is adaptedlto 'seat upon the Lipper face of collar 4a, preventingV leakage Yof water from the .upper chamber into the tube 8 when said valve 8a is closed. l

Intheupper end of tubeS. below t-he valve 8a are provided portse, through which'the water inthe `upper chamber may pass into the tube 8 and tothe closet bowl, when the Valve 8 isy uns'eated, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.

Tube 8iis normally held in thedepressed position relative to stem 5 (as shown in full lines in Fig. l) by means of a spring 8e mounted on the lower end of tube 8 below stem 5 and confined between the spider 7 andl on stem 5 "and a collar: 8d mounted on the lower end of the rod 8;

'O perret/0%.

In. the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. l, water from pipe S fills the lower casing chamber', also the upper charnber by passing through the aperture 4i Iin the piston Valve 4, while Valt/ei 4ftcloses the upper end of' tube 3X, andthe' Value 8y vis held seated by the action of the spring" 8', as above described. l

ln orderto flush the bowl, handle is raised and when it reaches' the `position shown in 'dotted lines in Fig. 1,' the finger 3 will raise the tube4 8 i'n the stein 5, 'uns'"eait` ingv value Sa and allowing the water the upper chamber toA pass through the ports ig@ down through the vtube 8, anol int-o the elfo'set bowll The Huid pressure' abioye'the piston Valve 4 being thus decreased by ,theescape of water from the upper 'eh'ambe'ig allows the piston valve 4 to rise' (under the pres'- sure' of the water entering from pipes) ,to the approximate position shown in Fig. '2, allowingv the water from the pipe 'S topa'ss over the upper edge of tube 3X and inttli'e closet bowl, which operation will cortin'ue as long as valve 8EI is'unseated.

lVhen handle 3m is released spring 8 again seat-s` valve 8 upon collar' 4a, and

there then being no oule'tzf'orl thefwate the upper chamber, said upper chamber gradually fills with water through aperture 4e. forcing piston valve 4 downward tendiug to seat valve` 4f upon the top of tube 3f to close same. y

The water passing .out through thetusbe 3X creates a downward 'pressure on the of' spider 7 which also tends to;l cause `tlie valve 4 to seat upon the 'top of tube-:3*"to stop the How of' water, however the piston willI only descend as fast as the upper -ehar'nr-V ber is filled bythe passage of water through the aperture 4e. A i I lVhen the valvel 4f is seated ,the upper and lower chambers are againiilled with water and the valve is ready for re-use. I The valve is self-regulating regardless of rthe water pressure in pipe S, and the speed of operation thereof is controlled by the vsiizre of the aperture 4e in the piston Valve '-lf. 'the pressure. in the pipe S ishigh-'Wat-er `will be vforced through the aperture 4 vmore quickly than if the pressureis low, a-nditlie valve 4f can not close the tube 3X untilthe upper chamber is refilled by thefpassageof water tl'irough the aperture 4e. In locations where the water pressure of theinains isefX K tremely high a smaller water supplyj pipekS' could be used advantageously.

Vhat I claim is: l A l. A fiushing apparatus comprising a 12bAv member having a fluid inlet and a iiuid outlet; a tube surrounding the outlet; a p-iston valve adapted to normally close the upper end ofthe tube, and to divide the interior l of the member into upper and lowerichambers; an aperture through the piston valve exterior to said tube for permitting a restricted iow of water past the piston from the lower to the upper chamber; a tubular stein within said tube depending from said piston valve; a release valve. adapted to seat on` the upper face of said piston valve; a second tubular stem depending vfrom said release valve, and adapted to slide within said irst mentioned tubular stem; a guide on the lower end of said first mentioned tubular stem adapted to engage the walls of said tube; a rock shaft mounted in the member; an actuating lever on said shaft exterior to said member; a stufiing box in said member; walls around said shaft; and a finger on said shaft adapted to engage the lower end of said second tubular stem to raise said release valve and vent said upper chamber, whereby the outlet valve will be opened and will remain open until the upper chamber is .again filled with water passing through the 2. In a flushing valve; a cylindrical cas-- ing having an inlet and an outlet port; a tube surrounding said outlet portion, and extending above the inlet port; the upper end thereof forming a valve seat; a valve for closing said outlet port; a piston on said valve dividing the casing into upper and lower chambers; a tubular stem within said tube depending from said valve; a guide on the lower end of said stein slidably engaging the walls of said tube; an aperture through said piston for admitting water to pass into the upper chamber past said piston; a release. valv-e adapted to seat on the upper face of said piston; a second tubular stem slidable within the first mentioned tubular stem and extending through said piston and below the lower end of said first metnioned tubular stem; a port in the upper end of said second tubular stem for venting the upper chamber when said stem and release valve are. raised; spring means for normally holding Said second tubular stem in position to close the port and release valve therein, and means for actuating said second tubular stem to vent the water above said 'piston through the second tubular stem and below said outlet valve.

3. In a flushing valve; a cylindrical casing having an inlet port in its side and an outlet port in its bottom; a tube surrounding said outlet portion and extending abo-ve the inlet port, the upper end thereof forming the outlet valve seat; a valve for closing said outlet port; a piston on said valve dividing the casing into upper and lower chambers; a tubular stem within said tube said piston and below the. lower end of said 1 first tubular stem; a port in the upper end of -the walls of said second tubular stem for venting the upper chamber when saidstem is raised; a spring on the lower end of said second stem interposed between the lower ends of said tubular stems for normally holding said second stem in posit-ion to close the porttherein; and means for actuating said second tubular stem to vent the water in the upper chamber through the second tubular stem, whereby the outlet valve will open and will remain open until the upper chamber is again filled with water.

4. In a flushing valve, a cylindrical casing; an inlet in the side thereof; an outlet in the bottom thereof; a tube around said outlet and ext-ending upwardly in the casing above the inlet; the upper edge of said tube forming an outlet valve seat; a valve for closing said outlet valve; a piston connected with said valve anddividing the` interior of the casing into an upper and lower chamber; a tubular stem depending from said piston and disposed within said tubular member; a guide on the lower end of said stem slidablyl engaging said tube; said piston having an aperture thereinexterior tothe tube to admit a restricted flow of wa- Vter from the lower to the upper chamber;

lUU

said outlet valve; and having portstherein near its upper end to vent the water from the upper chamber and discharge vsame against the action of the spring; substan- 1 tially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN KNELL." 

